Tharsis Is a Turn-Based Space Strategy Game Coming to PS4 on January 12, 2016

Quite possibly the first PlayStation game that will release in 2016, Tharsis from Gaijin Games and Choice Provisions is coming to PlayStation 4 on January 12, 2016 in North America and Europe.

A single-player game that’s console exclusive to PS4 at launch, Tharsis is a turn-based strategy game about humanity’s first mission to Mars.

Wanting to make a game that’s engaging on a mechanical level and unlike anything else on the market, Gaijin Games Co-Founder Mike Roush talked about balancing the game:

Developing Tharsis has been nothing short of a blast, but it’s also had its fair share of difficult times. As anyone making a board game — digital or otherwise — will tell you, the “balancing” phase of production can be a long one indeed. It’s a whole lot of trial and error, paired with a hearty dose of throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks. But despite the difficulty of it, it’s something that deserves as much time and attention as possible.

Without proper balancing, players of Monopoly would be able to pass Go and collect $200 on their way to jail. Without proper balancing, the hippos of Hungry Hungry Hippos probably wouldn’t be so hungry. This is why we made the decision to take all the time we needed to get it right, and that just so happened to be two years, which is about how long it takes for Mars to orbit the Sun.

Roush adds, “There’s still a lot about Tharsis we haven’t discussed here. It’s a complex, systems-heavy game, and so we want to take our time with introducing you to what it’s all about.”

Here’s the full description for Tharsis:

A mysterious signal originating from the Tharsis region of Mars set us on a frantic mission. Who sent it? And why? Impossible questions, but in them lie the key to humanity’s survival.

Now, millions of miles away from home, a micrometeoroid storm has left us with a severely damaged ship, two deceased crew, and the sneaking suspicion this trip was doomed from the start.

Tharsis is a turn-based space strategy game. With dice. And cannibalism. It puts you in control of humanity’s first manned mission to Mars, just as it’s struck by a micrometeoroid storm. You must guide your crew through disasters, food shortages, and the unforgiving nature of space — all while maintaining your sanity amidst cryptic signals and warnings from Mars.

Defy the odds, make the difficult decisions, and embark on the most important mission in human history.

What do you think of Tharsis?

[Source: PS Blog (1), (2)]

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